Documents
IMPORTANT MESSAGE REGARDING THE NEW ABFT LABORATORY ACCREDITATION CHECKLIST
Click here to download the new checklist.
As most of you are aware, ABFT has been working on an updated checklist - now attached as a near-final copy. It contains numerous substantive and non-substantive changes suggested by Accreditation Committee members and directors of the ABFT Accredited laboratories, most of which were discussed at the ABFT/AAFS meeting in February. For all those that contributed comments - thank you - we have tried to incorporate as many suggestions as we could. I apologize for not sending the copy out with “track-changes”, but the document underwent too many edits at different times.
Please provide any additional feedback you have by COB Monday April 22nd. Any agreed changes will be incorporated and the "final" checklist sent out to all of you by May 1st. ALL laboratories will have until November 1st 2013 (6 months) to become compliant. Any lab whose inspection is scheduled prior to November 1st (including applicant labs) will be inspected according to the old checklist (unless they request inspection to the new standards). Any lab whose inspection is scheduled after Nov 1st will be inspected against the new standards.
ALL labs will need to provide a copy of a self-evaluation checklist (new version) by November 1st 2013 indicating - question by question - how they are compliant with each standard. Ideally that will be by providing a specific reference to the applicable SOP version, section, etc. Where that is not practical, a narrative must be provided.
Just to emphasize, that what were previously checklist “questions” will become mandatory accreditation “standards” effective November 1st. This is consistent with the approach for the ISO and other accreditation programs.
We will ask each laboratory director to certify the self-evaluation checklist submission, that to the best of their knowledge, the laboratory is compliant with each checklist standard (we may provide a space for any exceptions we did not anticipate when we crafted the question). The final document will provide space for comments after each standard.
You can view and save each of the following individual documents:
Additional Files for Accredited Laboratories and Inspectors:
Please contact the ABFT Accreditation Committee Chair, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , prior to submitting any application.
